School Improvement

SI Weekyl Update: 15 September 2025

SI Weekly Update: 08 September 2025

08 September 2025:

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

ACTION: complete the KS2 September checking exercise from Monday 08 September

The 2025 KS2 Sep

tember checking exercise will open on Monday 08 September and close at 5pm on Friday 19 September.

During the checking exercise, schools will be able to check their data for the academic year 2024 to 2025 and, if necessary, submit requests to remove pupils, subject to specified criteria.

You can find more information and guidance in the Check Your Performance Measures Data (CYPMD) Help Centre.

KS2 SATs marking and clerical review outcomes will be available on Wednesday 10 September
Marking and clerical review outcomes for the 2025 test cycle, will be available on the PAG on Wednesday 10 September.

In the ‘Completed activity’ section, schools with review outcomes will find a:

letter confirming the outcome of their review applications
notification of changes sheet
marking review report for each subject, per pupil, where a marking review was requested

In the ‘Available activity’ section, schools will be able to access the reviewed test scripts using the ‘View and download KS2 test results’ form. This will show the review marks for each pupil, including those where pupil results have been amended as a result of a review.

Outcomes of marking and clerical reviews will not be included in the September checking exercise, but will be reflected in the revised school-level data published in December.

Reminder: download your 2025 multiplication tables check results by Friday 26 September

Pupils’ 2025 MTC results are still available to view and download in the ‘View pupil results’ section of the MTC service until Friday 26 September.

After this date, the MTC service will close. It will reopen on Monday 27 April 2026.

Schools can download a common transfer file (CTF) containing their MTC results and upload this into their management information system (MIS).

Complete the PE and sport premium expenditure reporting return
The DfE are aware that some primary schools experienced issues accessing the PE and sport premium expenditure reporting return. The closing date has been extended to Tuesday 30 September 2025.

EARLY YEARS

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework
The standards that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5. Change made: Added link to ‘Early years employment reference template’.

The new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Nutrition Guidance, effective from September 2025, is a statutory requirement for early years providers in England, mandating healthy, balanced, and nutritious meals, snacks, and drinks.

Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding Reforms
From September 2025 Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding Reforms come into place: Summary of changes.

How Ofsted look at the use of Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) in their inspections of early years settings.
School leaders need to be aware of the pupil who are in receipt of the EYPP and be able to explain how the funding is used to support pupils’ learning and development.
How we look at the use of Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) in our inspections of early years settings – Ofsted: early years

The EEF guide to the Early Years Pupil Premium
Early Years Pupil Premium | EEF

The EEF Early Years Toolkit – evidence and resources for Early Years educators
Early Years | EEF

Action: administer the Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA)
Schools must administer the RBA to all eligible pupils in the first 6 weeks after they enter reception. The Baseline e-Portal has now closed. School staff involved in the administration of the RBA should now use DfE Sign-in to access the:

Assessment service: start an assessment
Assessment service: manage your school’s assessments

You should use the 'Assessment service: start an assessment' to:

complete training
familiarise yourself with the assessment content
ensure your devices can connect successfully
access modified guidance
manage accessibility settings
start an assessment

You should use the ‘Assessment service: manage your school’s assessments’ to:

register pupils
record reasons for pupils not taking the assessment
complete the headteacher’s declaration form (HDF)
view and download narrative statements

All pupils must be uploaded to the service. If you decide that a pupil should not take the assessment, you must provide a reason and update the pupil status.

For more information:

watch the new video on managing pupils and administering assessments
refer to the full collection of RBA guidance
get further support in the RBA help centre

The WRITING FRAMEWORK

Guidance on how to teach writing published 8 July 2025

The DfE has published evidence-based guidance for all primary school leaders and teaching staff, giving simple, practical advice about how to teach writing in reception, key stage 1, and key stage 2.

Schools should read the writing framework and, during academic year 2025 to 2026, use the audits to evaluate and plan improvements.

Actions:

access the writing framework
sign up to the writing framework information webinar for leaders taking place Tuesday 30 September 2025, at 4pm to 5pm

OFSTED

Education inspection framework: engagement programme
Details of Ofsted’s programme of webinars to help familiarise providers with the November 2025 education inspection framework changes. A date for an additional webinar for ‘State-funded primary schools’ has been added on Thursday 2 October 2025: 4pm to 5pm

Ofsted sets out measures to ensure steady and assured start to inspections under the renewed framework
Ofsted has announced several measures to reassure education providers about the November roll-out of inspections under the renewed inspection framework.

SAFEGUARDING

Keeping children safe in education
The September 2025 version of the keeping children safe in education guidance is now in force, replacing previous versions.

Martyn’s law for education settings
How educational settings can prepare for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 and protect their children and young people.

RSHE

Review of the RSHE statutory guidance.
This report presents an analysis of responses received, along with the government’s response and the next steps.

Revised guidance has been published on ‘Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education’ for introduction on 1 September 2026.

The new National Curriculum Assessment Portal (NCA Portal) - upcoming changes for the 2025 to 2026 academic year

From this academic year onwards, Pearson will provide the Test Operations Service, supporting national curriculum assessments on behalf of the Standards and Testing Agency (STA).

The new National Curriculum Assessment Portal (NCA Portal) goes live on Monday 22 September for all school users. If your contact details were correct on the Primary Assessment Gateway (PAG), you will receive access information on how to access the NCA Portal. This email will include a secure link to activate your account and create your password.

There are some new changes on the NCA Portal including:

the merging of the attendance register and aid notification into a single online-only process
a streamlined headteacher declaration form (HDF) that can be completed once you've submitted your attendance register

You can find more information and support accessing the NCA Portal in the Test Operations Service provider guidance for schools.

If you need any further assistance, please contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or at assessments@education.gov.uk